Parallel hand hygiene compliance system

ABSTRACT

In combination a group compliance system for monitoring hand-hygiene compliance of a plurality of persons using a plurality of hand cleaning fluid dispensers in facilities together with a personal compliance system for monitoring hand-hygiene compliance of an individual person of the dispensers within the facilities, however, with the individual person having control as to the extent that any data regarding their identity and hygiene events are disclosed to others.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/869,674 filed Sep. 29, 2015 and claims the benefit of 35 U.S.C. 120.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hand-hygiene compliance monitoring and, moreparticularly, to a method and system for monitoring hand washing by anindividual person in a confidential manner in conjunction withhand-hygiene compliance monitoring of a group of persons.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known hand-hygiene compliance monitoring systems monitor hand cleaningevents of persons such as in hospitals, healthcare facilities andrestaurants. In many systems, each person wears an identification tagwhich identifies that person and the compliance system monitors theidentity of that person when they activate a hand cleaning fluiddispensing dispenser and the time and location of the hand cleaningevent. Such compliance systems provide not only group compliance dataregarding the activity of a group of persons but also individual dataregarding the identity and hygiene events of each individual person.

Such known hand-hygiene compliance systems suffer a number ofdisadvantages. One disadvantage is that the gathering and storage ofinformation about the individual person may be in breach of privacy lawsin various jurisdictions. Another disadvantage is that persons arereluctant to agree to participate in such hand-hygiene compliancemonitoring as they are concerned that their hygiene practices will beinferior to the hygiene practices of other persons and negatively affecttheir employment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To at least partially overcome these disadvantages of previously knowndevices, the present invention provides a hand-hygiene compliancemonitoring system in which an individual person controls the extent towhich the identity of the person and any hygiene events associated withthat person may be disclosed to others.

Preferably, to overcome these disadvantages of previously known devices,the present invention provides in combination a group compliance systemfor monitoring hand-hygiene compliance of a plurality of persons using aplurality of hand cleaning fluid dispensers in facilities together witha personal compliance system for monitoring hand-hygiene compliance ofan individual person of the dispensers within the facilities, however,with the individual person having control as to the extent that any dataregarding their identity and hygiene events are disclosed to others.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of monitoring theuse of a plurality of hand cleaning fluid dispensers in a facilityfrequented by a number of persons, wherein:

-   -   each of the dispensers is located at a location in the facility        spaced relative the location of other of the dispensers and,        when activated by a person proximate each respective dispenser,        each dispenser dispenses a fluid onto the person's hand suitably        positioned relative the dispenser,    -   the method comprising:    -   providing a group compliance system comprising a first computer        and a first communications network providing communication        between each of the dispensers and the first computer,    -   on the dispensing of the fluid by each of the dispensers,        communicating group data from each of the dispensers regarding        the dispensing by each of the dispensers to the first computer        via the first communications network;    -   monitoring with the first computer the group data regarding the        dispensing of fluid by each of the dispensers and calculating        group compliance data representing the dispensing of fluid by        the dispensers based on the group data,    -   providing a personal compliance system comprising a personal        computing device carried by one person, a second computer and a        second communication network providing communication between        each of the dispensers, the second computer and the personal        computing device,    -   determining when any one of the dispensers is a proximate        dispenser by being sufficiently close to the personal computing        device that the one person carrying the personal computing        device can have fluid from that respective dispenser dispensed        onto a hand of the one person,    -   on the dispensing of the fluid by each of the dispensers while        each comprises the proximate dispenser, communicating personal        data from the proximate dispenser regarding the dispensing by        the proximate dispenser wirelessly to the personal computing        device, and communicating the personal data to the second        computer;    -   monitoring with the second computer the personal data regarding        the dispensing of fluid by each of the dispensers while each of        the dispensers is the proximate dispenser and calculating        personal compliance data representing the dispensing of fluid by        the dispensers based on the persona data while each of the        dispensers is the proximate dispenser,    -   designating as private data the personal data from the proximate        dispenser regarding the dispensing by the proximate dispenser        and data derived therefrom including the personal compliance        data;    -   preventing communication from the personal compliance system        other than to the one person of the private data unless        authorized by the one person,    -   communicating from the personal compliance system to the one        person of the personal compliance data or data derived therefrom        to the one person.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a compliance system ina facility including:

-   -   a plurality of hand cleaning fluid dispensers,    -   each of the dispensers located at a location in the facility        spaced relative the location of other of the dispensers,    -   when activated by a user proximate each respective dispenser,        each dispenser dispensing a fluid onto the user's hand suitably        positioned relative the dispenser,    -   a group compliance system comprising a first computer and a        first communications network providing communication between        each of the dispensers and the first computer,    -   each of the dispensers providing data to the first computer via        the first communications network regarding the dispensing of the        fluid by each of the dispensers;    -   the first computer monitoring the data regarding the dispensing        of fluid by each of the dispensers and calculating group        compliance data representing the dispensing of fluid by the        dispensers,    -   a personal compliance system comprising a personal computing        device carried by one person,    -   each of the dispensers providing data to the personal computing        device wirelessly representing the dispensing by each of the        dispensers of the fluid onto the hand of the one person;    -   the personal compliance system monitoring the data regarding the        dispensing of fluid by each of the dispensers by the one person        and calculating personal compliance data representing the        dispensing of fluid by the one person,    -   the personal compliance system communicating the personal        compliance data to the one person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken together with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is schematic view of a hand-hygiene compliance monitoring systemin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing two persons simultaneously using twoof the dispensers in the hand-hygiene compliance monitoring system ofFIG. 1 in a first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view the same as FIG. 2 but showing a second embodiment ofthe left hand side group compliance system;

FIG. 4 is a view the same as FIG. 2 but showing a third embodiment ofthe left hand side group compliance system; and

FIG. 5 is a view the same as FIG. 2 but showing a second embodiment ofthe right hand side personal compliance system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is made first to FIG. 1 which schematically illustrates ahand-hygiene compliance monitoring system 90 in accordance with thepresent invention including: a facility 100 having a number of handcleaning fluid dispensers 10 where persons are to clean their hands; afirst computer 24, a second computer 64, a plurality of routers 18 andthe Internet 19. The facility 100 may be, for example, a hospital or ahealthcare facility or a food processing or preparation facility.

The facility 100 is schematically shown in a plan view as having aplurality of walls 99 which divide the facility into a number of rooms101 to 108 as connected by doorways, each of which is adapted to beclosed by a pivoting door 109. Throughout the facility 100, thedispensers 10 are located at desired locations where they will beconvenient to use by a person such as a worker within the facility as,for example, on either side of each doorway, on walls and, in the caseof room 101, freestanding in the middle of the room.

On FIG. 1, the three wireless routers 18 are schematically shown asspaced about the facilities. FIG. 1 shows the first computer 24 and thesecond computer 64 which are in communication with the wireless routers18 as preferably in a wireless manner via the Internet indicated as 19.The first computer 24 and the second computer 64 may be located in thefacility or at some other location remote from the facility 100.

Reference is made to FIG. 2 which schematically illustrates twoidentical dispensers 10 from the facility 100 of FIG. 1 beinghypothetically concurrently used by a first person 20 and a secondperson 60. In FIG. 2, each dispenser 10 is shown as being supported on afreestanding support tower 11. Each dispenser 10 is adapted whenactivated to discharge a dose of hand cleaning fluid from a downwardlydirected discharge outlet 12. The dispenser 10 includes a housing 13which in a known manner includes, while not shown, a hand cleaning fluidcontaining reservoir, a pump to discharge the fluid out the outlet 12when activated, a dispenser control system for controlling andactivating the pump for discharge of the fluid, and a dispensercommunications system. For example, each dispenser 10 may comprise atouchless dispenser such as, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.7,984,825 to Ophardt et al, issued Jul. 26, 2011, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference. The dispensers 10 in FIG. 2are preferably touchless dispensers which includes a hand sensing system15 which senses the presence of a user's hand underneath the dischargeoutlet 12 and, while the user's hand is underneath the discharge outlet12, activates the pump in the dispenser 10 to discharge a dose ofcleaning fluid onto the user's hand. A suitable hand sensing andactivation system involving an electromagnetic emitter and a sensor tosense electromagnetic radiation from the emitter which is reflected offa hand is disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,984,825.However, the nature of the dispensers 10 useful with this invention arenot limited and various different dispensers may be used includingmanually operated dispensers, for example, as disclosed U.S. Pat. No.8,684,236 to Ophardt, issued Apr. 1, 2014.

Each dispenser 10 is shown as including an antenna which serves to sendor receive wireless signals, preferably WiFi or Bluetooth, signals asbetween the dispenser communication system of the dispenser 10 and othercomponents in the compliance system 90.

The first person 20 is shown as located proximate to the left dispenser10 in FIG. 2, with a hand 21 of the first person 20 disposed underneaththe discharge outlet 12 such that on activation of the dispenser 10, thedispenser 10 discharges the fluid onto the user's hand 21.

The first person 20 is shown as carrying an identification badge 22 asmounted to the person's shirt. The identification badge 22 is a devicewhich carries identification data which uniquely identifies the person20. The identification badge 22 functions to disclose the identificationdata of the person 20 to the compliance system 90. The identificationbadge 22 also provides a badge proximity system in a first proximitysystem which identifies the location of the first person 20 as beingsufficiently close to the left dispenser 10 that the left dispenser 10may be activated by the first person 20 to dispense the fluid onto thehand 21 of the first person 20. The first proximity system preferablycomprises a wireless proximity sensor 16 carried on the left dispenser10 which, for example, measures a relative strength of a proximitysignal P transmitted by an emitter of the badge proximity system carriedby the badge 22. The proximity signal P is shown as a line of letters“P” between the proximity sensor 16 on the left dispenser 10 and thebadge 22.

The identification badge 22 includes a badge communication system whichcommunicates wirelessly with the dispenser communication system 15 ofthe left dispenser 10 such that identification data I is disclosed fromthe identification badge 22 to the left dispenser 10 wirelessly asindicated by the wireless signal shown as a line of letters “I” in aline between the identification badge 22 and the wireless router 18.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, dispensing data D regarding the operationof the left dispenser 10 is developed by a dispenser control systemwithin the left dispenser 10 and communicated wirelessly from the leftdispenser 10 to the wireless router 18 and, hence, via the Internet 19to the first computer 24. The dispensing data D is schematicallyillustrated by the wireless signal shown as a line of letters “D”between the antenna of the left dispenser 10 and the antenna on thewireless router 18. The dispensing data D includes without limitationdata regarding the dispensing of the fluid and preferably including thetime of activation and location of the dispenser. In FIG. 2, theidentification data I is also communicated from the left dispenser 10 tothe router 18.

In FIG. 2, preferably for each activation of the left dispenser 10 whichdispenses fluid, the dispensing data D regarding the activation togetherwith the identification data “I” regarding the identification of thefirst person 20 is provided to the first computer 24. The first computer24 and every dispenser 10 in the facility as used by all persons 20carrying an identification badge 22 provides a group compliance system25. Thus, a group of first persons 20 within the facility 100 each carrya unique identification badge 22 and the hygiene events of each of thesefirst persons 20 with all the dispensers 10 in the facility 100 aremonitored by the group compliance system 25 in a manner as indicatedwith one person 20 from the group on the left hand side of FIG. 2 withthe dispensing data D from the activations of each of the differentdispensers 10 and the identification data I provided to the firstcomputer 24. On the dispensing of fluid by each of the dispensers 10,dispensing data D and the identification date I regarding the dispensingby each of the dispensers 10 by each first person 20 is provided to thefirst computer 24 by a first communication network comprising in thepreferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the dispenser communication system ofeach dispenser 10, the wireless routers 18, the Internet 19 and a firstcomputer communication system of the first computer 24 is to receive andsend the data. The first computer 24 monitors such group data regardingthe dispensing of fluid by each of the dispensers 10 by the firstpersons 20 and calculates group compliance data representing thedispensing of fluid by the dispensers 10 by the first persons 20 basedon the group data. The group compliance data provides one or moremeasures of hand-hygiene compliance including, for example, anindication of the number of times that the average first person 20cleans their hands in a typical work shift.

Reference is made to the right hand side of FIG. 2 which illustrates apersonal compliance system 65 including a smart phone 62, the rightdispenser 10, the wireless router 18, the Internet 19 and the secondcomputer 64. The right dispenser 10 is identical to the left dispenser10 and similar reference numerals are used to refer to similar elements.On the right side of FIG. 2, a second person 60 is shown to have hishand 61 located under the outlet 12 of the dispenser 10 such that thedispenser 10 will discharge the hand cleaning fluid onto the hands 61 ofthe second person 60. The second person 60 carries on their person apersonal computing device in the preferred form of the smart phone 62.

The smart phone 62 includes a personal hygiene computer application. Thepersonal hygiene computer application is controlled by the person 60 andhas a number of features. The personal hygiene computer application canbe activated by the second person 60 to provide a unique identifiercode, which is associated with the second person 60 and is communicatedin manners as controlled by the second person 60. In the configurationas illustrated on the right hand side of FIG. 2, the smart phone 62 andits application are selected by the second person 60 to operate in amanner such that the smart phone 62 serves a first function of providinga phone proximity system in a second proximity system which identifieswhen the second person 60 is sufficiently close to the right dispenser10 that the second person 60 may place their hand 61 underneath thedischarge outlet 12 of the right dispenser. The second proximity systempreferably comprises the wireless proximity sensor 16 carried on theright dispenser 10 which, for example, measures a relative strength of aproximity signal transmitted by an emitter of the phone proximitysystem. The phone proximity system may be the same or different than thebadge proximity system. On the right side of FIG. 2, the proximitysignal P is shown as a line of the letters “P” between the smart phone62 and the proximity sensor 16.

The right dispenser 10 sends dispenser data D as a wireless signalregarding the dispensing of fluid by the right dispenser 10 which signalis indicated by the line of the letters “D” between the right dispenser10 and the smart phone 62. The smart phone 62 is adapted to receive andprocess the dispenser data D. The smart phone 62 provides personal dataincluding identification data I to the second computer 25 as by wirelesssignals from the smart phone 62 to the wireless router 18 and hence viathe Internet 19 to the second computer 64. Both an identification data Irepresented by wireless signal shown as a line of letters “I” anddispensing data D represented by the wireless signal shown as a line ofletters “D” are shown as passing from the smart phone 62 to the wirelessrouter 18.

As seen in FIG. 2, on the right hand side, the smart phone 62, the righthand dispenser 10, wireless router 18, the Internet 19 and the secondcomputer 64 provide the personal compliance system 65 in which a secondcommunication network is provided by reason of the communication systemof the dispenser 10, a communication system of the smart phone 62, thewireless router 18, the Internet 19 and a communication system of thesecond computer 64.

In operation, when the right dispenser 10 is determined by the secondproximity system to be sufficiently close to the smart phone 62 that thesecond person 60 carrying the smart phone 62 can have fluid from thatrespective dispenser dispensed onto the hand 61 of the second person 60,the right dispenser 10 is characterized as being the proximatedispenser. On dispensing of fluid by the right dispenser 10, while theright dispenser 10 comprises the proximate dispenser for the smart phone62 of the second person 60, there is communication from the smart phone62 of the identification data I to the second computer 64 and, as well,communication from the right dispenser 10 to the smart phone 62 andhence from the smart phone 62 to the second computer 64 the dispensingdata D regarding the dispensing by the right dispenser 10. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the communication of the dispensingdata D by the right dispenser 60 is shown as passing from the rightdispenser 10 to the smart phone 62 and, hence, to the second computer64. The dispensing data D provided to the second computer 64 regardingthe operation of each dispenser 10 by the second person 60 and theidentification data I regarding the second person 60 is defined aspersonal data. The second computer 64 monitors the personal dataregarding the dispensing of fluid by each of the dispensers 10 in thefacility while each of the dispensers 10 is the proximate dispenser forthe second person 60 and, based on this personal data, the secondcomputer 64 calculates personal compliance data representing thedispensing of fluid by the various dispensers 10 for the second person60 based on the personal data while each of the dispensers 10 is theproximate data for the second person 60.

All of the personal data sent via the smart phone 62 through the secondcomputer 64 is security protected to prevent understanding of the dataother than by components of the personal compliance system 65. Forexample, all the personal data may be encoded such as by encryptioncomputer programs so as to be confidential. As another alternative, thesecond communication system may limit communication to being betweenvarious of the components of the personal compliance system 65, forexample, by controlled pairing as found with Bluetooth systems. Thesecond computer 64 as directed by the smart phone 62 under the controlof the second person 60 will designate all of the personal data asprivate data including all of the data regarding the identification ofthe second person 60, regarding the designation of any of the dispensersas a proximate dispenser for the second person 60, and the dispensingfrom any dispenser 10 while it is a proximate dispenser and includingany data derived from the personal data including all personalcompliance data for the second person 60.

The second computer 64 is configured to prevent the communication fromthe personal compliance system 65 other than to the second person 60 ofthe private data unless authorized by the second person 60. The personalcompliance system 65 communicates to the second person 60 selected ofthe private data for that second person 60 including notably personalcompliance data regarding the second person 60.

A compliance systems 90 in accordance with the present inventionpreferably includes both the group compliance system 25 and the personalcompliance system 65.

The personal hygiene computer application on the smart phone 62preferably has a security system by which the second person 60 canselect different modes of operation and thereby control the extent towhich any private data or personal data is disclosed to others. Forexample, in an inactive most confidential first mode of operationselected by the second person 60, the security settings for the personalhygiene computer applications are set such that no private datawhatsoever is gathered or monitored or disclosed whether on the smartphone 62 or in any other device. In this first mode, the personalcompliance system 65 is effectively inactive. In this first mode, thesecond person 60 may, for example, merely receive the group data andgroup compliance data G from the first computer 24, preferably as aone-way communication to the smart phone 62 indicated on FIG. 2 as aline of letters “G” from a router 18 to the smart phone 62. The securitysystem for the personal compliance system 65 preferably in a second modeof operation selected by the second person 60 controls the securitysetting such that all communication of the private data is maintainedconfidential within the personal compliance system 65, that is, betweenthe smart phone 62 and the second computer 64 as preferably by suitablepairing, encryption and/or communication encoding which would preventthe group compliance system or any other devices from receiving and/orunderstanding the private data.

The security system for the personal compliance system 65 preferably ina third mode of operation selected by the second person 60 controls thesecurity settings such that there is communication of the private datato the group compliance system 25 and its first computer 24 to the sameextent that identification data for any first person 20 is communicated,however, with the exception of excluding any identification data I thatactually identifies who the second person 60 is.

The security system for the personal compliance system preferably in afourth mode of operation selected by the second person 60 controls thesecurity settings such that there is communication of the private datato the group compliance system 25 and its first computer 24 to the sameextent that identification data for any first person 20 is communicated,for example, including identification data I that actually identifieswho the second person is.

The personal compliance system 65 would in any mode of operationpreferably disclose the private data and selected portions of theprivate data to the second person 60 as accessible by the second person60 in a suitable confidential manner, for example, under passwordprotection on the smart phone 62 or otherwise as merely for view by thesecond person 60 as on the smart phone 62. The private data which is tobe communicated from the smart phone 62 to the second person 60 ispreferably private data representing suitably calculated personalcompliance data representing the dispensing of fluid from each proximatedispenser including, for example, the number of dispensings to thesecond person 60 in a typical shift. The second computer 64 and/or thesmart phone 62 preferably also receives from the first computer 24selected of the group data and the group compliance data G representingthe dispensing of fluid of all of the dispensers based on the groupcompliance data. Preferably, the second computer 64 or the smart phone62 compares the personal compliance data with the group compliance dataand calculates comparison data which is to be presented to the secondperson 60 via the smart phone 62. Such comparison data is of assistancein identifying to the second person 60 how their hygiene practicescompare to hygiene practices of the group. Such comparison data is datawhich is considered as private data whose dissemination is subject tothe security system for the personal compliance system 65 under thecontrol of the second person 60 since the comparison data is dataderived from the personal data.

The personal compliance system 65 preferably includes a reward systemwhich monitors actions of the second person 60 and awards rewards to thesecond person 60 based on reward events monitored. Under the rewardsystem, each reward event has a predetermined value of rewards. When areward event is identified and monitored, the reward system awards thevalue of rewards for that event, keeps track of and monitors the awardof all rewards, the redemption of the rewards and maintains a balance ofunredeemed rewards. The reward system communicates to the second person60 reward data regarding the rewards awarded, redeemed and the balanceof unredeemed rewards. The reward system also communicates to the secondperson 60 data regarding any value in currency, goods or services forwhich the rewards can be redeemed. The events for which the rewardsystem can monitor and award rewards can include, for example, withoutlimitation, each event by which the personal compliance system 65communicates personal data regarding the second person 60 about theiroperation of a dispenser 10. For example, each time a second person 60operates a dispenser 10, a reward event may be deemed to have occurredand an appropriate award provided. Under the reward system, when anaccumulative value or balance of unredeemed rewards exist for the secondperson 60, the second person 60 can redeem the rewards according totheir value whether in currency, goods or services by a suitable systemsuch as encrypted coupon which can be communicated via the smart phone62 to the second person 60 and, for example, by the smart phone 62 to agoods or service provider.

As a first example, on each activation of a dispenser 10 by the secondperson 60 which is to be kept as private data, ten reward points may beplaced in a reward account of the second person 60. Once 500 rewardpoints are accumulated in the reward account of the second person 60,the second person 60 can request and redeem those 500 points for anencrypted coupon issued by the second computer 64 permitting thepurchase of a cup of coffee at a particular coffee retail store, forexample, preferably located in the facility. Once that coupon isredeemed at the coffee retail store, the balance of unredeemed rewardsin the reward account is reduced by the 500 points.

Another event which can generate a reward is preferably an event bywhich the personal compliance system 65 communicates the personal datato the second person 60, for example, the personal compliance system 65after a shift of work will communicate personal compliance data and acomparison of personal compliance data with group compliance data; thesecond person 60 will review the personal data communicated andacknowledge with the smart phone 62 that he has received and reviewedthe personal data communicated. This event could, for example, representa reward of 50 points in the first example.

In accordance with the present invention, preferably, the second person60 selects with the security system of the personal compliance system 65the mode of operation which selects the extent that the private data iskept confidential within the personal compliance system 65 and notdisclosed to anyone other than the second person 60. Preferably, thereward system will as a function of the selected mode of operation varythe rewards awarded preferably to increase the rewards as lessconfidential modes are used, for example, to encourage the second person60 to use the personal compliance system in less confidential modes.

The reward system preferably will provide for increased rewards to thesecond person 60 in the event the second person 60 changes the securitysetting and selects a mode of operation in which the private data is atleast in part released from being confidential as, for example, ispermitted to be communicated to the group compliance system 25. Forexample, the second person 60 may select the fourth mode of operationwith the personal identification data to be communicated to the firstcomputer 24 to the same extent that the personal compliance data isdisclosed to the first computer 24 in respect of the badge carryingfirst person 20. In this case, the rewards system would monitor thepersonal data that the personal compliance system 65 would provide asfrom the second computer 64 to the first computer 24 or from the smartphone 62 directly to the first computer 24 and provide suitable rewardsto the second person 60 based on the events monitored. In the firstreward example, a reward for each use of a dispenser might be increasedfrom ten points when in the second mode of operation to twenty points inthe third mode of operation and to thirty points in the fourth mode ofoperation.

The reward system can be provided such that rewards are merely providedto the second person 60 when the second person 60 selects the third modeof operation or fourth mode of operation when at least some of theprivate data regarding his use of a dispenser and/or his identity isprovided to the group compliance system and the first computer 24.

A system in accordance with the present invention thus as seen in FIG. 2provides a group compliance system 25 in parallel with the personalcompliance system 65. All data regarding the personal compliance system65 and gathered thereby can be controlled by the second person 60 toremain confidential and not be shared or disclosed, for example, withthe group compliance system 25. The second person 60 has the ability toselect modes of operation and security settings for the security systemwhich control the extent to which any of his activity or identityinformation can be kept confidential and not disclosed to the groupcompliance system 25 and, as well, the second person 60 can control thesecurity system so as to permit some or all of data from the personalcompliance system 65 to be disclosed to the group compliance system 25.

By providing an overall compliance system including a personalcompliance system which is controlled by the second person in parallelwith a group compliance system, a second person 60 who may have concernsregarding personal data disclosure may more easily be persuaded to agreeto join the overall compliance system. Through experience as a user ofthe personal compliance system 65 in more confidential modes ofoperation, the second person 60 will be able to confidentially see asfeedback his personal compliance data compared to the group compliancedata. The second person 60 from this feedback may come to be confidentthat disclosure of his personal compliance data will not be prejudicialto him and this may assist the second person 60 in adopting lessconfidential modes of operation permitting increased amounts of hisconfidential data on the personal compliance system to be disclosed tothe group compliance system for incorporation in the group compliancedata. If the overall compliance system includes a reward system and thesecond person 60 comes to be rewarded by various rewards, the secondperson 60 may be motivated by increased rewards to increase the extentto which the confidential data from the personal compliance system 65may be disclosed to the group compliance system 25.

The group compliance system 25 as illustrated in FIG. 2 may, forexample, be adapted so as to collect information as regarding theoperation of a dispenser 10 only when a first person 20 operates adispenser with an identification badge 22. For example, in the contextof FIG. 2, in the absence of the dispenser 10 sensing the proximity ofan identification badge 22, no signal is sent by the dispenser 10 whichwill be recognized by the first computer 24 as being operation of thedispenser. That is, for example, with the first computer 24 possiblyonly acknowledging as a dispensing event wireless signals whichsimultaneously contain both dispensing data D and identification data I.In this example, the personal compliance system mode of operation couldprevent the dispensing data regarding the second person 60 from beingincluded in the group data as merely by not providing any identificationdata.

While not shown on FIG. 2, when the right dispenser 10 is operated bythe second person 60 in one arrangement in accordance with thisinvention, the dispenser data D is to be delivered to the first computer24 in which case the first computer 24 could use the dispensing data Din group compliance data, albeit, without any indication as to theidentification of the second person 60. For example, in any facility,the mere fact that any of the dispensers 10 have been operated a numberof times is relevant information for compliance monitoring if even noneof the dispensings have any indication as to the identity of the personwho may have operated the dispenser. In such an arrangement dispensinguse by the second person 60 would be included in the group data,however, without identification data unless authorized by the secondperson 60.

The particular manner of operation of the group compliance systems 25and 65 to communicate the relevant data to the respective first computer24 and second computer 25 can adopt any manner of configurations.

Each of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show second, third and fourth embodiments ofthe compliance monitoring system 90 and having close similarity. FIGS. 3and 4 show alternate arrangements for the group compliance system 25 tocommunicate the dispenser data D to that in FIG. 2. For convenience, thecommunication of the personal compliance system is not shown on FIGS. 3and 4. FIG. 5 shows an alternate arrangement for the personal compliancesystem 65 to communicate the dispenser data D to that in FIG. 2. Forconvenience, the communication of the personal compliance system is notshown on FIG. 5.

Reference is made to FIG. 3 which shows a second configuration of thegroup compliance system in which the dispensing data D is communicatedfrom the dispenser 10 to the first computer 24 whereas theidentification data I is communicated from the identification badge 22to the first computer 24 without the identification data I necessarilypassing through the dispenser 10.

Reference is made to FIG. 4 which shows a third configuration of thegroup compliance system in which the dispensing data D is communicatedfrom the dispenser 10 to the identification badge 22 and theidentification badge 22 communicates both the dispensing data D and theidentification data I to the first computer 24.

While the preferred system illustrates a dispenser 10 with wirelesscommunication to a router 18 and the router 18 via the Internet 19 tothe first computer 24 or the second computer 64, it is to be appreciatedthat any dispenser 10 may be hardwired to the computers, or thecomputers may be hardwired to a router and the use of the routers andthe Internet in a communication system are not essential. However, aswireless WiFi network are conveniently found in many facilities, the useof a WiFi wired communication system is preferred.

An arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 4 can be advantageous so as tominimize the communication capability of the dispenser 10, for example,to merely have the dispenser 10 include an ability to have its proximitywith the identification badge 22 or smart phone 62 determined by theidentification badge 22 or smart phone 62 and with the dispenser 10 tomerely provide some signal on activation. In FIG. 4, preferably greatercomputing capability and communication capability is provided in theidentification badge 22 or smart phone 62 for passing data onto thecomputers 24 or 64. In FIG. 4, the dispenser 10 may be a manuallyoperated dispenser as taught by aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 8,684,236or as disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication US 2013/0099929 to Ophardt etal, published Apr. 25, 2013.

Reference is made to FIG. 5 which illustrates a second embodiment of aparallel compliance system in accordance with the present invention. Inthe second embodiment, the processor within the smart phone 62 providesall functions of the second computer 64 in the other embodiments. Thissecond embodiment has the advantage that the smart phone 62 controls alldata and information which may be considered to be confidential asdeveloped by the personal compliance system 65 without the need to passencrypted needed information onto any other device. This arrangement ispreferred for maximum security and thus maximum comfort to the secondperson 60 as to the confidentiality of private data. However, insofar asthe parallel compliance system of FIG. 5 is to include a reward system,then the smart phone 62 may include a computer application that providesall features necessary to carry out the reward system withoutcommunication with other devices other than possibly on the actualredemption of a reward. More preferably, insofar as the reward system isto be incorporated, then a second computer such as 64 in FIG. 2 would beprovided with the private data to be communicated between the smartphone 62 and the second computer 64 being limited by being encrypted orencoded data and/or being limited to communicate data that is merely anindication as to the number of reward points rewarded or redeemed andthe like which would not identify the second person 60.

The compliance systems 25 and 65 of this invention may include systemsfor determining the location of any person within a facility such as byGPS, by triangulation from wireless routers or transmitters and byproximity systems to determine when an identification badge 22 or smartphone 62 may pass by or be close to one or more proximity sensors whichmay or may not be on any one of the dispensers 10. In addition, variousoperators may be provided within the facility which, when operated by auser as, for example, in the opening of a door 109 will trigger acommunication which will identify either an identification badge 22 orthe smart phone 62 as passing in proximity through the doorway.Similarly, a specific event such as the opening of a drawer containingan item which is to be used, for example, a kit for changing a bandageon a patient may trigger a signal identifying as by proximity thelocation of an identification badge 22 or cell phone 62 and identifyingthat a specific kit has been taken. Any one of these events can thentrigger an expectation that hygiene events should occur such as, forexample, an expectation that within an expected period of time afteropening a door to a patient's room, a person will use a dispenser 10nearby to wash their hands or an expectation that within an expectedperiod of time after opening a kit to change a bandage, that a number ofuses of a dispenser 10 nearby should occur. The compliance systems maylook for hand washing events in space and time proximity to a triggeredevent and determine suitable compliance expectations based on thetriggered event and whether such hygiene events are sensed afterwards.Each of the events may be considered as part of the group compliancesystem or as part of a personal compliance system or both with, forexample, as controlled by the second person 60 the information of thepersonal compliance system 65 being kept secret and confidential ascontrolled by the second person 60.

Preferably, in accordance with the present invention, the personalcompliance system 65 will prevent the group compliance system or othersystems from determining the location of the second person 60 within thefacility unless the second person 60 authorizes their location to bedetermined. For example, a suitable selection of features on the smartphone 62 can be made to avoid personal location systems beingoperational based on interactions with the smart phone 62.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the first person 20 isshown as carrying an identification badge 22 and the second person 60 isshown as carrying the smart phone 62. The identification badge 22 maycomprise a smart phone albeit programmed for suitable differentfunctions. Each of the identification badge 22 and the smart phone 62could be a portable personal computer, however, which preferably atleast when carried with the second person 60 needs to be able to receiveinput from the second person 60 and to communicate with the secondperson 60, for example, on a video screen or audibly.

In accordance with the present invention, various communications andnotifications may be sent by the personal compliance system 65 and thegroup compliance system, suitably security protected as controlled bythe second person 60, including prompts suggesting the person wash theirhands or instructions how to use any item, such as a kit for changing abandage, associated with any triggered event.

The group compliance system 25 includes a badge proximity system and thepersonal compliance system 65 includes a phone proximity system whichmay be the same or different than the badge proximity system. Each ofthese proximity systems preferably are a wireless proximity system. Theparticular nature of these proximity systems is not limited. In a firstpreferred such system, there would be a signal emitted by one of thedispenser and the smart phone 62 (or the ID badge 22) and a sensor onthe other of the dispenser 10 and the smart phone 62 (or the ID badge22). The relative strength of the signal transmitted by an emitter canprovide an indication as to the proximity of the person 60 (or 20) tothe dispenser 10. However, the relative signal strength may vary havingregard to a number of factors such as the relative extent to which thebattery on the dispenser 10 or cell phone 62 may be fully charged, thelocation of the cell phone 62 on the person as, for example, exposed orcovered in a pocket or jacket; the relative orientation of the person 60to the dispenser 10 and various other items. In a more preferred system,there is provided two or more emitters, for example, two or moreemitters on the dispenser at spaced locations on the dispenser 10 or,for example, two or more sensors at spaced locations on the dispenser 10which can by the relative strength of the signal sensed by a singlesensor or by two sensors better determine the proximity of the dispenser10 and the cell phone 62.

The specific nature of the wireless signal for the proximity systemwhich is emitted and sensed is not limited. Preferably, it may be anelectromagnetic signal, preferably, a radio frequency. However, thesignal may also comprise a sound signal, more preferably, an ultrasonicsignal which can, for example, be emitted by one or both of thedispenser 10 and the smart phone 62 and be emitted from one or morespeakers and sensed by one or more microphones on the dispenser 10 orthe smart phone 62.

The proximity system may also comprise a near field arrangement whichestablishes communication when the dispensers and smart phone arebrought into close proximity. The proximity system may use a capacitivesensor to detect and measure proximity, for example, without limitationto sense the mass of the person 20 or 60 proximate the dispenser 10 orvice versa. Different combinations of proximity sensing arrangements canbe utilized to enhance the accuracy of the proximity sensing.

The proximity sensing system may be provided by location systems thatserve to determine the location of any dispenser within a facility and,as well, then serve to locate the location of any badge 22 or cell phone62 within a facility and to determine proximity as when the person 10and, for example, the cell phone 62 are deemed to be sufficientlyproximate that the user could use the system. However, insofar asproximity is determined by use of location of the person 60 and thedispenser, caution needs to be taken that there are safeguards in placeto ensure the secrecy of the identity of the person 60 in the personalcompliance system.

A proximity sensing system for any particular dispenser need not,however, necessarily have a proximity sensor on the dispenser. Insofaras the dispenser may, for example, be within a particular room in thefacility which might, for example, have a number of dispensers then, forexample, a proximity sensing system could include proximity sensorswithin that room which could, for example, determine when the cell phone62 is proximate to any one of the dispensers.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the personal compliance system 65 is shownas providing communication between the smart phone 62 and the secondcomputer 64 through a router 18 and the Internet. It is to beappreciated that this is not necessary and the communication from thecell phone 62 may be to the computer 64 by many other paths. Forexample, the smart phone 62 preferably has capability for storing dataas well as preferably for configuring, calculating and reconfiguringdata. The smart phone 62 may retain data regarding operation of adispenser 10 as well as other data on the smart phone only fortransference to the second computer 64 and only periodically rather thanconstantly. For example, the cell phone 62 might only communicate withspecific portals to the computer 64 as, for example, through a hardwiredconnection to a user's private computer for increased security or, forexample, only from time to time as, for example, at the end of a shift,day, week or month and, in which case, the user 60 may in fact controlsuch transfer of information from the memory of the cell phone 62 to thesecond computer 64.

Of course, it is to be appreciated that in respect of a preferredconfiguration, the cell phone 62 may at least be in constantcommunication with the router 18 within the facility and there may becontinued opportunity for communication between the cell phone 62 andthe computer 64, however, this is not necessary.

The various FIGS. 2 to 6 show various arrangements for the groupcompliance system 25 and the personal compliance system 65. Insofar asthe user 60 may select a mode of operation which permits confidentialinformation of the personal compliance system 65 to be transferred tothe group compliance system, then of course, such communication, whilenot shown on FIGS. 2 to 5, may be conveniently provided between thecomputers 24 and 64 as via the Internet or, of course, alternatively.

In accordance with the present invention, FIGS. 2 to 5 schematicallyillustrate a suitable arrangement. Preferably, however, as in theenvironment of a hospital, each of the group compliance system 25 andthe personal compliance system may 65 may include a data collectioncomputer which would act as a buffer and securely receive from each ofthe routers 18 data regarding the relative system keeping the dataregarding the relative systems confidential. Each of these datacollection computers would then, after gathering the data and possiblydoing some manipulation, preferably send the data as in secure packetsas via a virtual private network to the relative first computer 24 andthe second computer 64 in a confidential manner. It is to be appreciatedby persons skilled in the art that merely a single data collectioncomputer might need to be provided on site in a facility which couldkeep any data secret and separate in respect of the two compliancesystems 24 and 64 and yet permit for relative transfer of the data tothe first computer 24 or second computer 64.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 illustrates an arrangement in which a cellphone 62 effectively serves all of the functions of the second computer64. Such an arrangement can be particularly useful as, for example, inrelatively small, real or conceptual facility such as within a doctor'soffice that may have one, two, three or other relatively small number ofpersons and, for example, in which the facility to be covered may infact comprise a number of relatively facilities.

In accordance with the present invention, particularly in the embodimentof FIG. 5, the compliance system 90 has an ability to permit the varioususers 60 to share their information into various privacy groups such as,for example, with a privacy group comprising merely one person 60 orpossibly a plurality of persons 60 in respect of which their privatesmall group information could be shared merely between them by varioussocial media such as a Facebook™ system and the like in a confidentialmanner. The personal compliance system 65 could adopt a mode ofoperation which would permit the development of such small privategroups for suitable gathering of confidential data and suitable, forexample, for delivery of such data as authorized by the individual userson a periodic basis for sharing, for example, to a social media sitesuch as a Facebook™ site and the like.

A smart phone 62 or an identification badge 22 preferably has acapability for storing data regarding dispensing for transfer, forexample, via the routers and the Internet to the respective computers 24and 64, periodically or from time to time as can be advantageous, forexample, if there may be areas within a facility in which thecommunication between the smart phone 62 or the badge 22 and theInternet may not be temporarily working or may be weak and cannotproperly communicate.

In accordance with the present invention, a personal compliance systemmay be utilized, for example, to provide different confidentialityrequirements on data gathered in respect of different groups of personswithin a facility, for example, between visitors and employees.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferredembodiments, many modifications and variations will now occur to personsskilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference is madeto the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A method of monitoring the use of a plurality of handcleaning fluid dispensers in a facility frequented by a number ofpersons, wherein: each of the dispensers is located at a location in thefacility spaced relative the location of other of the dispensers and,when activated by a person proximate each respective dispenser, eachdispenser dispenses a fluid onto the person's hand suitably positionedrelative the dispenser, the method comprising: providing a groupcompliance system comprising a first computer and a first communicationsnetwork providing communication between each of the dispensers and thefirst computer, on the dispensing of the fluid by each of thedispensers, communicating data from each of the dispensers regarding thedispensing of fluid by each of the dispensers to the first computer viathe first communications network; defining group data to include thedata from each of the dispensers regarding the dispensing of the fluidby the dispensers communicated to the first computer; monitoring withthe first computer the group data and calculating group compliance datarepresenting the dispensing of fluid by the dispensers based on thegroup data, providing a personal compliance system comprising a personalcomputing device carried by one person and a second communicationnetwork providing communication between each of the dispensers and thepersonal computing device, determining when any one of the dispensers isa proximate dispenser by being sufficiently close to the personalcomputing device that the one person carrying the personal computingdevice can have fluid from that respective dispenser dispensed onto ahand of the one person, on the dispensing of the fluid by each of thedispensers while each comprises the proximate dispenser, communicatingdata from the proximate dispenser regarding the dispensing by theproximate dispenser to the personal compliance system, defining personaldata to include the data from the proximate dispenser regarding thedispensing by the proximate dispenser, and communicating the personaldata to the personal compliance system; monitoring with the personalcompliance system the personal data and calculating personal compliancedata representing the dispensing of fluid by the dispensers based on thepersonal data, designating as private data the personal data and dataderived therefrom including the personal compliance data; preventingcommunication from the personal compliance system other than to the oneperson of the private data unless authorized by the one person,communicating from the personal compliance system to the one person ofthe personal compliance data or data derived therefrom to the oneperson.
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the first computercommunicating the group compliance data to the personal compliancesystem; the personal compliance system comparing the personal compliancedata with the group compliance data and calculating comparison datarepresentative of the such comparing, the comparison data comprisingpart of the private data; communicating from the personal compliancesystem to the one person the comparison data.
 3. The method as claimedin claim 2 wherein: the first computer communicating the groupcompliance data to the personal compliance system; and the personalcompliance system communicating the group compliance data to the oneperson.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein as authorized by theone person, communicating with the personal compliance system, thepersonal compliance data or the data derived therefrom to the one personvia the personal computing device.
 5. The method as claimed in claim 4including providing the personal compliance system with identificationdata identifying the one person, and wherein the personal data includesthe identification data.
 6. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein thefirst computer monitors the dispensing of fluid by each of thedispensers by all persons including the one person.
 7. The method asclaimed in claim 1 wherein the first computer monitors the dispensing offluid by each of the dispensers by a number of persons in apredetermined group of persons which group does not include the oneperson.
 8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first computermonitors the dispensing of the fluid by each of the dispensers by anumber of persons in a predetermined group of persons which groupinclude the one person, having each person in the group carry anidentification tag; determining by cooperation of the identification tagand each of the dispensers when any one identification tag and arespective one of dispensers are sufficiently close that the personcarrying the one identification tag can activate the respective onedispenser to dispense fluid, and limiting data used in calculation of atleast some of the group compliance data to data regarding dispensingfrom the dispensers at a time when the any one identification tag andthe respective one of the dispensers are sufficiently close that theperson carrying the one identification tag can activate the respectiveone dispenser to dispense the fluid.
 9. The method as claimed in claim 8wherein data linking the identification tag to the one person comprisespersonal data which is not provided to the first computer except asauthorized by the one person.
 10. The method as claimed in claim 1wherein the step of determining when any one of the dispensers is aproximate dispenser is carried out by the personal compliance system andeach dispenser cooperating to provide a proximity system.
 11. The methodas claimed in claim 1 including enabling the one person by use of thepersonal computing device to permit the personal computing device tocommunicate to the personal compliance system portions of the privatedata.
 12. The method as claimed in claim 1 including: providing arewards system which monitors events including each event by which thepersonal compliance system communicates the personal data to the oneperson, and awards rewards to the one person based on the eventsmonitored, permitting the redemption of the rewards by the one personredeeming the rewards for a value in currency, goods or services; andmonitoring the award of the rewards, redemption of the rewards and abalance of unredeemed rewards and communicating to the one person rewarddata regarding the rewards including any value in currency, goods orservices for which the rewards can be redeemed.
 13. The method asclaimed in claim 12 wherein the events further include each event bywhich the personal compliance system communicates the personal data tothe first computer.
 14. The method as claimed in claim 1 includingprotecting the private data from being communicated by the personalcompliance system other than as encrypted for decryption by the personalcompliance system or as authorized by the one person by the groupcompliance system.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 1 includingproviding a security system which permits the one person to selectdifferent modes of operation of the personal compliance system selectedfrom the group consisting of: a first mode preventing any communicationof the private data from the personal computing device other than to theone person, a second mode preventing communication of the private datafrom the personal compliance system other than to the personal computingdevice, a third mode preventing communication of the private data fromthe personal compliance system other than to the one person andpreventing communication of the private data that includesidentification data identifying the identity of the one person to thegroup compliance system, and a fourth mode of preventing communicationof the private data from the personal compliance system other than tothe one person and the group compliance system.
 16. The method asclaimed in claim 1 including further designating as the private data alldata identifying the one person.
 17. The method as claimed in claim 1including providing the personal compliance system with identificationdata identifying the one person, and wherein the personal data includesthe identification data.
 18. A method of monitoring the use of aplurality of hand cleaning fluid dispensers in a facility frequented bya number of persons, wherein: each of the dispensers is located at alocation in the facility spaced relative the location of other of thedispensers and, when activated by a person proximate each respectivedispenser, each dispenser dispenses a fluid onto the person's handsuitably positioned relative the dispenser, the method comprising:providing a group compliance system comprising a first computer and afirst communications network providing communication between each of thedispensers and the first computer, on the dispensing of the fluid byeach of the dispensers, communicating data from each of the dispensersregarding the dispensing of fluid by each of the dispensers to the firstcomputer via the first communications network; defining group data toinclude the data from each of the dispensers regarding the dispensing bythe dispensers communicated to the first computer; monitoring with thefirst computer the group data and calculating group compliance datarepresenting the dispensing of fluid by the dispensers based on thegroup data, providing a personal compliance system comprising a personalcomputing device carried by one person and a second communicationnetwork providing communication between each of the dispensers and thepersonal computing device, providing the personal compliance system withidentification data uniquely identifying the one person; determiningwhen any one of the dispensers is a proximate dispenser by beingsufficiently close to the personal computing device that the one personcarrying the personal computing device can have fluid from thatrespective dispenser dispensed onto a hand of the one person, on thedispensing of the fluid by each of the dispensers while each comprisesthe proximate dispenser, communicating data from the proximate dispenserregarding the dispensing by the proximate dispenser wirelessly to thepersonal compliance system, defining personal data to include theidentification data and the data from the proximate dispenser regardingthe dispensing by the proximate dispenser, communicating the personaldata to the personal compliance system; monitoring with the personalcompliance system the personal data and calculating personal compliancedata representing the dispensing of fluid by the dispensers based on thepersonal data, designating as private data all data regarding theidentification of the one person including the personal data and dataderived therefrom including the personal compliance data; preventingcommunication from the personal compliance system other than to the oneperson of the private data unless authorized by the one person,communicating from the personal compliance system to the one person ofthe personal compliance data or data derived therefrom to the oneperson.
 19. A compliance system in a facility including: a plurality ofhand cleaning fluid dispensers, each of the dispensers located at alocation in the facility spaced relative the location of other of thedispensers, when activated by a user proximate each respectivedispenser, each dispenser dispensing a fluid onto the user's handsuitably positioned relative the dispenser, a group compliance systemcomprising a first computer and a first communications network providingcommunication between each of the dispensers and the first computer,each of the dispensers providing data to the first computer via thefirst communications network regarding the dispensing of the fluid byeach of the dispensers; the first computer monitoring the data regardingthe dispensing of the fluid by each of the dispensers and calculatinggroup compliance data representing the dispensing of the fluid by thedispensers, a personal compliance system comprising a personal computingdevice carried by one person and a second computer, each of thedispensers providing data to the personal compliance system representingthe dispensing of the fluid by each of the dispensers when each of thedispensers are activated and dispense the fluid onto the hand of the oneperson; the personal compliance system monitoring the data regarding thedispensing of the fluid by each of the dispensers by the one person andcalculating personal compliance data representing the dispensing of thefluid by the one person, the first computer providing the groupcompliance data to the personal compliance system; the personalcompliance system comparing the personal compliance data with the groupcompliance data and calculating comparison data representative of thesuch comparing, the personal compliance system communicating thecomparison data to the one person; the personal compliance system andeach dispenser cooperate to provide a proximity system which determineswhen the personal computing device and a respective dispenser of thedispensers is sufficiently close that the one person carrying thepersonal computing device can activate the respective dispenser, and thepersonal compliance system limiting data used in the calculation of atleast some of the personal compliance data to data regarding dispensingfrom each of the dispensers at a time when the personal computing deviceand each of the dispensers is sufficiently close that the one personcarrying the personal computing device can activate each of thedispensers.
 20. The compliance system as claimed in claim 19 wherein thepersonal compliance system prevents communication from the personalcompliance system other than to the one person of all data regarding theidentification of the one person.